Conflict and Weak Governance Fuel Yemen’s Environmental Crisis

Nov 21, 2023 | Hannah Porter
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In late October, residents of the coastal border areas between Oman and Yemen braced themselves as Tropical Cyclone Tej made landfall. Predictions varied for the ensuing damage, but one thing was clear: Oman was prepared to weather the storm and Yemen was not. 

Years of conflict have destroyed Yemen’s economy, already one of the weakest in the region before the Houthi takeover of Sanaa and the 2015 Saudi-led intervention in Yemen. Yemen’s agriculture and natural environment are under threat due to its deteriorating state institutions and economy, which can be attributed to the lack of a central authority and rivaling governments. Ministries and government offices tasked with managing land and water resources are understaffed or nonoperational.

Attempts by donors and international organizations to address climate and environmental issues can risk exacerbating local tensions and depleting existing resources if they are not undertaken in a sustainable and conflict-sensitive manner. For example, the distribution and unregulated use of solar-powered pumps in parts of Yemen – which aim to reduce Yemeni farmers’ dependence on diesel –has led to severe overextraction of the country’s groundwater and increased inequalities between large and small farms.